D and Alucard (and Buffy and Blade and the Belmonts and so on) all have it easy. They're basically on an even footing with the vampires they hunt, and that's being generous to the prey.

It's way more impressive when a regular Joe, like Van Helsing, manages to succeed. I assume, of course, we're talking about Bram Stoker's Van Helsing, not one of the various super-powered re-imaginings.

People here seem to be drawing a direct connection between the Underworld movies and the Lycan option. While I recognize that those movies probably popularized the usage it's not actually original to them. People who have animalistic shapeshifting abilities are generally called Lycanthropes in the fictional works where they exist. The word Lycans is just an obvious shortening. And imo Werewolves and the other varieties of Lycanthropes are easily the most interesting hunters of Vampires.

D and Alucard (and Buffy and Blade and the Belmonts and so on) all have it easy. They're basically on an even footing with the vampires they hunt, and that's being generous to the prey.

I hear that argument a lot, usually as a reason for why Superman is a boring character. "He can do anything, why is that interesting?"

Basically, if you're reading Superman comics, or watching Buffy, to see heroes in a physical fight against their opponents, you're missing the point. And quite a few Superman writers, especially for movies and TV Series have missed the point (except for early Lois & Clark in the early seasons). The story isn't about their abilities. It's about how all those powers still aren't enough to fix basic problems we encounter day to day.

Sure, physically, Vampires were no match for Buffy. Then again, she had relationship issues, could not save her mother from death, and when Angel turned evil, she had the opportunity and ability to kill him several times, but couldn't bring herself to do so. As a result of her inaction, other people died, and she had to deal with that. Eventually, she did have to kill him, but at the moment she did so, her physical strength wasn't a variable, since he had been given his soul back and was utterly confused about what was going on. Had Cordelia been there, she could have physically run that sword through Angel just as easily.

The later seasons deal with similar issues. Oftentimes her strength actually gets in her way. And that's what stories about super-powered individuals should be about.

Soooo... he was a lich? I mean, he resurrected with his old wounds intact (hence, the "doubting Thomas" incident with the finger in Christ's side, which went into the hummus afterwords, causing the other Apostles and Disciples great discomfort).

When it comes to Religion on Slashdot, you are allowed to believe anything you want - as long as you believe in no god at all, or profess a mocking belief in the flying spaghetti monster. It's pretty obnoxious, but unfortunately Slashdot has become far more puerile than it used to be. Used to be that the trolls would be modded down. Not only are they often modded UP these days, but anything that even hints at a belief in anything above and beyond what is "allowed" here is modded down into oblivion.